WGFA NEWS FOR Friday, Feb 29, 2008 >

Leap Day gives us another day this month…. Ag Day for the Ford-Iroquois Extension Service….. Parkland approves tution hike, DACC may follow suit….. ex-prison guard sentenced….. St. Anne wins, advances to meet Donovan in Sectional C-ship…..

More snow for Illiana. Another inch overnight here at WGFA. Some areas received two inches. Flurries yet this morning with a high near 37. Sunny and 39 Saturday. Sunday could reach 52 with a chance of rain.

–More area news on WGFA News Links.–

• A day like today only happens once every four years. Today in “Leap Day,” the extra day tacked on to the end of February in leap years. To some people in parts of the U-S, this is a good day to be superstitious.
• An annual event aimed at promoting reading by young people across the country kicks off in Chicago today.
• Several speakers are on hand today at the annual AG Day, sponsored by the Ford-Iroquois Extension Service. Ag-related presentations are on the agenda for the day-long event at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley.
• Parkland College students will pay $5 more per credit hour, beginning this summer. The Parkland Board of Trustees has approved the tuition hike for in-district students. Students will see their tuition increase to $84 per credit hour; that’s $11 per credit hour to $227 dollars. Tuition for out-of-state and international students will increase by $20 per credit hour; to $355. The Danville Area Community College Board may also raise its tuition by $6 per credit hour–to $84. The DACC board is not expected to vote on the proposal until its March meeting.
• A former Dwight Correctional Center guard has been sentenced to 180 days in the Livingston County jail after pleading guilty to “custodial sexual misconduct.” The charge involved a woman inmate at the female prison. 28-year-old Justin Carwyle entered a plea agreement before Judge Harold Frobish.
• Today is Dr. John Pickering’s last day on the job as administrator of the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department. An Open House is being held at the watseka office from 2-4 pm. Pickering ends 30 years in the position. Doug Corbett has been named Pickering’s replacement.
• St. Anne High School has earned a rematch with Donovan. The Cardinals and Wildcats meet Saturday in the Somonauk Sectional C-ship. The neighboring disticts played each other in River Valley Conference action earlier this month, Donovan winning. St. Anne defeated Immaculate Conception last night, 61-55. Donovan was a 42-40 winner over Westminster Christian Wednesday night. Saturday’s title game can be heard on WGFA FM at 7:30 pm.

94.1 fm, wgfa —- since 1961

ILLIANA NEWS NOTES ON WGFA for Thursday, Feb 28, 2008 >

Donovan and Herscher High Schools advance in Sectional play….. Recipients of furniture give-away announced….. AG Day tomorrow at Buckley…… Wind farm project discussed in Dwight….. Judge OK’s sale of ethanol plant…..

A COLD MORNING IN ILLIANA…AN OVERNIGHT LOW OF MINUS 1 AND LOOK FOR A HIGH OF JUST 29. PERIODS OF SNOW OVERNIGHT.

- News also found on WGFA News Links.-

• Two local Watseka businesses–Watseka Chrysler and Kingdon’s Home Center–gave away furniture to flood victims last night. A voting contest resulted in the George Shuper family and Karl and Evelyn Johnson winning full sets of furniture. Three other families also walked away with gift certificates to Kingdon’s Home Center.
• The annual Ag Day in Iroquois County is Friday. The Ford-Iroquois Extension Ag Day is held at Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley. Several speakers will address agri-business issues. Other business displays will be set up. Registration begins at 8 am.
• A Portland, OR firm has proposed a huge wind farm for Livingston and LaSalle Counties. PPM Energy reps were in Dwight to explain the process. Another meeting is today at Pontiac. Displays explain the company’s plan, which has been in development for about two years. PPM plans to build 450 turbines scattered across 46,000 acres in the two counties. Dubbed the Streator-Cayuga Ridge Wind Farm, it would create 10-15 permanent jobs and offer 200 construction jobs per 100 turbines. Tonight’s meeting is at 7 pm at Pontiac High School.
• The almost-finished Central Illinois Energy plant in Canton will be sold, but to whom is the question. A bankruptcy judge has approved the process to sell the shuttered plant. But the same judge turned down a Florida boi-fuel company that wanted to buy it. Two offers are on the table for the 130-million dollar plant.
• The Donovan Wildcats are members of the Sweet 16 in Illinois. Donovan won its Sectional contest last night with a 42-40 win over Elgin (Westminster Christian). The now 27-3 Donovan club will meet tonight’s winner between St. Anne and Immaculate Conception (Elgin). The championship is Saturday night. Herscher meanwhile, won its 2-A Sectional by defeting Westmont 34-31. The Tigers tangle with Chicago Christian in the title game Friday night. Both games will be broadcast on WGFA FM.

“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA

Accident disrupts power to customers….. Near-Record precipitation this winter….. Northern IL counties gain snow emergency status….. Weather postpones Sectional B-Ball…..

ILLIANA WEATHER— chance of flurries today before noon. Cloudy wit a high near 24. Winds at 10-15 from the northwest.

–WGFA NEWS LINKS available for more area news.–

• Ameren-CIPS reports 4800 customers were in the dark last night after a traffic accident in Watseka. A police report was not available this morning, but Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris said a truck hit a utility pole on Belmont Avenie in Watseka. The truck ran up the guy-wire, eliminating power to residents from Watseka to Gilman, Sheldon, Crescent City, Iroquois and Donovan. The accident happened at 8 pm. Power was back on by about midnight.
• A wet winter has produced near-record precipitation counts in Illinois. The NWS at Lincoln released new numbers Tuesday. Lincoln has recorded 13.85 inches of precipitation. The record is 15.57 recorded in 1949-50.
• Governor Rod Blagojevich has declared eight northern Illinois counties state disaster areas because of heavy snow fall. The state is now looking to the federal government in hopes that those counties be declared snow emergency areas, an act that would allow governments in those counties to receive reimbursements for a portion of their overtime costs.
• Monday night’s weather and Tuesday’s additional snow and blowing forced some cancellations, including Sectional basketball games. The Donovan matchup with Westminster Christian at Somonauk was pushed ahead to tonight. The entire tournament is moved a day ahead, so St. Anne will play Thursday. The winners meet in the title game Saturday. The Herscher 2-A Sectional last night saw Watseka fall to Chicago Christian 54-51.

WGFA, 94.1 FM — since 1961

Kristin’s Pick for 2/26/08
God Save the Fan: How Preening Sportscasters, Soulless Leagues, and Athletes Who Speak in the Third Person Have Taken the Fun Out of Sports (And How We Can Get It Back) by Will Leitch.
 
When millions of smart, young sports fans need their daily fix, they turn to the massively popular blog Deadspin and its ringmaster, Will Leitch. Covering the sports world with the same biting, irreverent tone with which The Daily Show covers Washington, Leitch has quickly become the Jon Stewart of the sports world. He operates Deadspin “without access, favor, or discretion,” meaning no sacred cows – no players or public–relations people who might make his life miserable if he posts a photo of, say, a quarterback at a kegger the night before a big game.
 
Now, in this scathing and hilarious manifesto, Leitch serves as the mouthpiece for countless frustrated fans who are desperate to wrest their games away from the control of big money, unquenchable egos, and sportscasters (he’s looking at you, ESPN) who endlessly recycle “hip and clever” catch phrases that have long since passed their expiration date.
In GOD SAVE THE FAN, Leitch employs his trademark engaging, accessible voice to explore a range of topics, including the ridiculousness of fantasy leagues and yellow bracelets,why the debate about steroids is ultimately meaningless, and the aching permanance of loving just one sports team.
 
Filled with lists, glossaries, invented halls of fame, and much more, this rallying cry is about one thing: fan empowerment. And no one is better positioned than Will Leitch to puncture today’s out of control jockocracy and offer a blueprint for how to put the fun back into our games. - Review from Goodreads.com
 
This book will make you think about the sports world in a whole new way.  Will Leitch grew up in Mattoon, IL, not far from Illiana! 

WGFA’s ILLIANA NEWS NOTES FOR Tuesday, February 26, 2008 >

Snowfall makes for a messy commute today….Snowplows clearing 4-5 inches from area roads….. Furniture giveaway in Watseka…… Dr. Pickering retiring….. S&WCD award winners….. Sectional Basketball tonight on WGFA…..

The National Weather Service has cancelled a Winter Storm Warning. Four to five inches has fallen in most areas. A little more than 6 inches in Benton County, IN. High near 36 today but temps falling to near 24 by 5 pm. Northwest winds at 15-20 may pose problems.

–More area news on WGFA NEWS LINKS.–

• Snowplows out and about clearing roadways this morning. The heavier, wet snow may help prevent blowing and drifting later today. Motorists are urged to slow it down and buckle up.
• Flood victims in Watseka gathering this afternoon for a furniture giveaway. Watseka Chrysler and Kingdon’s Home Center plan to announce the winner of their furniture giveaway at 6 pm today at Kingdon’s. Five finalist families are expected.
• Dr. John Pickering retires Friday after 30-years as administrator at the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department. An Open House is planned at the Watseka office from 2-4 pm. Pickering began his tenure locally in March of 1978. He began his public health career in his native England in 1960.
• The Iroquois County Soil & Water Conservation District named the 2007 award winners last night at the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in Woodworth. John Lurgio of rural Clifton was named the Carl Lizzio Conservation Award Winner for 2007. The Conservation Farm Family Award winner was the Leonard Arnold family of rural Martinton.
• Donovan, Watseka, Herscher and St. Anne begin their quest for a Sectional title tonight. The IHSA Boys tournaments get started. Two games tonight on 94.1 FM feature Donovan and Watseka. Winners advance to respective c-ship games Friday at Somonauk and Herscher. South Newton also plays in Sectional competition in Indiana.

WGFA, 94.1 FM — “Your Illiana News Source” …. since 1961

Approx 4″ of snow this morning across East Central IL and West Central IN. Snow covered and slippery roads making for some slow driving conditions.

Schools

North Newton - Closed

South Newton - Closed

Benton Community - Closed

Unit 9 In Session on time - A few country roads that aren’t plowed that buses won’t travel on

Goodland Head Start - Closed

Milford - Dismissing at 1:15

Community

Cub Scout Pack 316 and Boy Scout Troop 316 meetings have been cancelled for tonight.

Watseka Park District Basketball Practice Cancelled

South Newton Playoff Action Postponed to Weds

Donovan at Somonauk Sectional has been posponed until tomorrow at 7:30p.

Donovan 7th grade girls volleyball at Grant Park has been postponed until tomorrow, same time and location.Â

Glen Raymond 7th grade volleyball Regional games at PBL has been postponed until tomorrow -Â same time & location.

Nettie Davis Parent Night has been postponed to a later date.

Fowler Baptist Church Food Pantry is postponed to Thursday night.

The Newton County Historical Society has cancelled their meeting scheduled tonight located at the Newton Co. Government Center in Morocco.

ILLIANA NEWS NOTES FOR Monday, February 25, 2008 >

NIU resumes classes….Flood Disaster Assistance for Indiana residents…. Brook arson fire investigated…… Iroquois County Relay for Life kickoff…. Area High school teams adance to Sectional play…..

A Winter Storm Warning is calling for up to seven inches of snow for Illiana. A mix of rain and sleet is likely this afternoon, changing to wet, heavy snow overnight. After a high of 41 today, tonight’s low is listed at 28 with blustery conditions Tuesday. High near 30.

–Check out area news on WGFA News Links.–

• Students of Northern Illinois University are returning to campus for the first time since the Valentine’s Day shooting, February 14th. Many are still in shock. A memorial service was held Sunday in Dekalb. The Governor and First Lady attended.
• Disaster help is available for Indiana residents suffering from the January flood. Another 12 counties were added to the original nine in the disaster declaration announced by President Bush January 30th. Disaster Recovery Centers are operational in several communities, where citizens can seek help and complete paperwork.
• Officials in Iroquois and Livingston counties in Illinois are still waiting for an announcement in Washington, D.C. whether a disaster declaration will be issued. LOcal and state officials have appealed an earleir denial for federal help.
• The 2008 American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Iroquois County held its annual kickoff event in Watseka. This year’s theme: Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back. The 2008 relay is set for June 13th and 14th at Watseka High School.
• Donovan, Watseka and St. Anne won Regional C-ships Friday in Boys High School basketball. Sectional play resumes this week. All three teams will be covered on 94.1 FM, WGFA.

“Your Illiana News Source” —- 94.1 FM, WGFA

WGFA’s Teacher of the Week for 2/25/08 is Mrs. Burton, Special Education Teacher at St. Anne Grade School.

Nominated by: Miranda Jackson

This teacher of the week continually pushes her students towards success and never gives up on any of her students. Miranda Jackson writes in her nomination that this teacher of the week is “a caring and giving teacher and that she is happy to be one of her students”. Congratulations to special education teacher, Mrs. Burton from St. Anne Grade School, this week’s Teacher of the Week!

Sponsored by Emerson-Sondergrath in Kentland, Pence Oil Service Center in Watseka, Bob Burd your local Country Insurance and Financial Services agent in Watseka, Community State Bank of Brook Indiana, Monical’s Pizza in Kentland, Pontiac, Gilman, and 2 locations in Watseka, Kankakee Community College, and the Cissna Park Medical Clinic.

The final day for Wesley House distribution for flood victims will be Saturday, Feb. 23 from 10 am to 1 pm at 321 S. 4th Street, Watseka.